Mosquito is one of the most dangerous insects in the world. There are over 3000 species of mosquitoes that can be found all over the world. Mosquitoes inhabit all kind of habitats that provide enough moisture and food. Fossil evidences indicate that they exist on the planet at least 79 million years.
Fast Facts about Mosquitoes
1. Mosquito is a miniature insect that can reach up to ¾ inch in length and 0.000088 ounces of weight.
2. Body of mosquito is divided in three segments: head, thorax and abdomen.
3. Mosquito has a pair of antenna on its head. They detect odours which facilitate identification of the prey and sites that are suitable for breeding.
4. Mosquitoes have large compound eyes that are composed of huge number of individual lenses.
5. Mosquitoes fly at a speed of only 1 to 1.5 miles per hour. They can travel up to 7.5 miles per night.
6. Mosquitoes have six legs and one pair of wings. They move their wings 450 to 600 times in just one second, which creates typical buzzing sound.
7. Only female mosquitoes suck blood. They require proteins from blood for development of eggs. Male mosquitoes feed on pollen and nectar.
8. Red, itchy bump on the skin (that can be seen after mosquito bite) represents allergic reaction to the saliva of mosquito.
9. Mosquito undergoes 4 developmental stages in their life cycle: eggs, larvae, pupa and adult insect. Development depends on the environmental conditions and temperature. It may last from 5 to 40 days. First three developmental stages take place in the water. Because of that, people try to eradicate mosquitoes by destroying their wet habitats.
10. Lifespan of mosquito depends on the species. It may last from several weeks to few months.